Diana May Flanagan

Diana May Flanagan was born on December 17, 1939, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to Melvin and Mary Jane Long. Her family moved to Syracuse, New York while she was quite young. While in high school in Syracuse, Diana met and dated David Flanagan, whom she would marry on October 31, 1962. After marriage, Dave and Di lived in many states across the country including New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, California, New Hampshire, Iowa, and Arizona, but have claimed Abilene, Texas as home since 1981.

Di had several jobs throughout the years: interior designer, church secretary, and secretary/academic advisor at Abilene Christian University. She worked at ACU for 28 years and had a deep love for the students she knew. She was a “mother hen” to her students and kept in touch with many long after they graduated. Several former students attribute much of their success at ACU to Diana. Di also taught the 4- and 5-year-old Bible class at her churches in both Arizona and Texas for a combined total of 45 years. In the almost 40 years she taught that age group at Southern Hills Church of Christ, she was blessed to teach multiple generations of some families. Di absolutely loved seeing “her kids” every Sunday.

Diana’s most loved job revolved around her family. The titles of wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother were most dear to her. Diana was able to celebrate her 59 ^th anniversary with David, her life-long love, in October. Her two children, Danny and Kelly, knew they were well-loved while growing up. That love extended to her daughter-in-law, Cherisse, and her son-in-law, Jim. Diana loved her in-laws as much as her own children. In fact, sometimes Danny and Kelly would joke that the in-laws got treated better than they did! In recent years, nothing made Diana happier than seeing her grandchildren. She was immensely proud of each one of them. She was also thrilled to be able to spend time with her first great-grandchild born this year. Diana passed away at home on November 20, 2021, at the age of 81 after a battle with cancer.

She is preceded in death by her parents and granddaughter, Bailey Flanagan. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, David Flanagan, son Danny Flanagan and wife Cherisse, daughter Kelly MacDonald and husband Jim, grandchildren, Hannah Bondoc and husband Bret, Kyla Flanagan, Troy, Trent, Paige, and Reese MacDonald, great-granddaughter March Bondoc, all of Abilene, TX, brother David Long and wife Marsha of Prescott, AZ, and their children.

The memorial service for Diana Flanagan will be held on Monday, November 29, 2021, at 11:00 am at Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, TX with a graveside service immediately following for family and close friends. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Salvation Army.